Connecticut western news., 1887-08-17

bring everybody home. Don't you think, Miss Grace, that it would be we'll to have three or four lads to help you keep or der, and to fetch and carrya Your brother will help I know, and I'll give Robert day off. He's young fellow who came to us in the spring, and we all think highly of him. He's just the one to help you, for nothing pleases him bet ter than to gather a crowd of children about him. Then there's the black smiths eldest boy. You don't know how pleased he would be at being asked to help you" ...
 ''The very thingm said, Grace. ssrll stop there tomorrow and ask him, and no doubt he can tell me of fourth helper."
 There was no difficulty in getting the children. Perhaps their mothers found more in getting them ready, for Friday morning saw all the clothes-lines Tn the village futtering with faded little frocks and pinafores, which needed all that soap and water could do to make them presentable. More than one little guest was without shoes or stockings; but at least they all had clean faces and famous appetites. I don't know whether the sun was in Grace's confidence, but it really seemed as if he knew all about it, when his bright red face pceped over the hills and shot a glance upward to the clear sky, and another down to the dcwy fields about five o'clock that morn ing. He fairly smiled all over when he looked in at Professor Girton's, until the quiet house was quite transfigured with the glow. Not only Mrs. Girton and Grace were there in the kitchen, but even Will was lending ready hand. ''For it takes the hand of rlan, or at least of big boy, to slice bread enough for Grace's army" said the handsome young fellow of one-and twenty, deftly plying his knife while he talked
 Ten o'clock was the hour chosen for starting, but by half past nine every child was waiting on Mrs. Girton's lawn. Grace, in pretty blue gingham gown, was flying here and there among them, and her four knights, as Will laughing ly dubbed himself and his companions, were slowing pails and baskets in the cart, and answering ceaseless round of questions from the eager little crowd.
 "March? Of course you may, and sing too. What de you want to singa'
 Somebody suggested "Shoo Fly" and somebody else voted for Bar berry AL lan," but the choice of the majority fell upon "Onward Christian Soldiers" :" which almost everybody professed to know. It turned out that they held various ideas as to time and tune, but as they all sang with right good will, that mattercd little. Then Grace and her brother sang songs in which the chil- dren came in on a stirring chorus, and time passed so quickly that there was a general cry of surprise when the picnic ground was reached The cart was there, ready to be unloaded, and Grace and two of her knights" took the work in hand, while the other two lads and Mrs. Merton started round games among the children. They played hide-and-seek, and "here we go round the mulberry bush;" and it turned out that the doc- tors little daughter had brought half a i dozen bean bags, which furnished fun for twice as many children.
 Four or five little girls wandered out of sight for while, and then one of the party came back and held whispered consultation with Mrs. Merton. It ended in her going back with the child, and then Mir. Douglass was called and let into the secret. The end of it all was, that when Grace marshalled her forces and took her place at the head of the 1 table-or rather, the table -cloth-four little girls came forward carrying 6 wreath of wild flowers, which Will took and placed upon his sisters head. Ii proved a size too large, and came down over her shoulders; but Mrs. Merton soon remedied the trouble by loosening the ends of the wreath and twining it, in a long spray, from Grace's shoulder | crosswise to her waist.
 | There was more than even that hungry | crowd could eat; and when each little girl had at last declined another piece oi cake, Will Douglass stood up and made funny speech, drinking Miss Grace's health in glass of iced milk, amid much laughter and clapping of hands on the part of the children
 Then Mamie and Saidee, who knew what Mrs. Douglass could do in the way of story, begged for one, and Grac, was led away to the foot of a large oal tree, around which all the childrer gathered to listen. Mrs. Merton anc the knights" meanwhile cleared away the remains of the feast, and made lit tie parcel for each child to take home tt mamma.
 Nobody could believe that it was fou l o'clock when two of Mr. Merton's farm wagons appeared, followed by thei kind d-heartcd owner and Professor Cir ton.
 And then came the crowning surpris' of the day, cake, and such cake! I was covered with frosting, had nineteen candles around the edge, and bore pinl rose in the centre.
 Strange to say, it was cut into exactl, thirty-seven pieces. There were thirty seven children present, including "Mis
 Grace" Mir. Merton said, and, as h.
 ,,aSSel thu cake hc warmed each liftl